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Thai authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from its border with Cambodia, as the worst hostilities between the neighbours in more than a decade escalated.
The Thai army said fighting restarted early on Friday in two provinces in the north-east of the country, a day after long-running border disputes with Cambodia broke out into armed clashes.
“Cambodian forces have conducted sustained bombardment utilising heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems,” the Thai army said in a statement.
Thai forces responded with “appropriate supporting fire in accordance with the tactical situation”, it said.
Thai authorities said 14 people were killed in the Cambodian attacks, including one soldier, and more than 100,000 people were evacuated form border areas.
In Cambodia, at least one civilian was killed and five others injured due to the Thai attacks, according to a regional official.
Violence between the south-east Asian neighbours erupted on Thursday after months of simmering tensions over a century-long border dispute.
Thailand launched F-16 fighter jets against Cambodia after accusing Phnom Penh of targeting civilian areas, including a hospital. Both countries blame the other for initiating the attacks.
Thailand and Cambodia have long held competing territorial claims over ancient temples and surrounding areas along their 800km border. Clashes have broken out sporadically in the past, with 20 people killed in 2011 near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.
In late May, a brief exchange of fire at one of the contested sites resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier and triggered strong nationalist sentiments in both countries.
Tensions have deepened since then, with both sides threatening to cut off trade.
In June, it was made worse after Hun Sen, Cambodia’s influential former leader and the father of current Prime Minister Hun Manet, leaked a recording of a phone call with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Paetongtarn was accused of taking a conciliatory tone with the elder Cambodian former leader that critics said undermined Thailand’s military and national interests. She has since been suspended by Thailand’s constitution court, which is considering whether she should be removed from office for ethical violations.
China has called on both countries to resolve the matter through dialogue. The US said it was gravely concerned by the fighting, and expressed alarm about reported harm to civilians.
“We strongly urge the immediate cessation of attacks, protection of civilians, and peaceful settlement of disputes,” the state department said in a statement.
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